Hungarian law targets Soros, foreign-backed NGOs

BUDAPEST — The Hungarian government is moving to limit the influence of nongovernmental organizations that promote democracy and the rule of law, seemingly buoyed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s election victory and the ascendance of the alt right in Washington.

This week, parliament is expected to introduce legislation on foreign-funded NGOs. The government’s bill, whose official text has yet to be made public, will likely require groups to register how much funding they receive from foreign sources.

The government argues that the law is intended to counter foreign meddling in the country's politics. Critics contend it is just the latest move to restrict political freedom in a country where the ruling party already controls much of the media and judiciary.

“The announced legislation is an unprecedented attack on dissenting voices by an EU member,” said Goran Buldioski, director of the Open Society Initiative for Europe. “European values are now at stake in Budapest … The rule of law and democratic standards, as well as the freedom of assembly and ability of NGOs to work, should be defended in Hungary.”

"... international organizations which are primarily linked to George Soros have overstepped a line” — Viktor Orbán

Zoltán Kovács, a spokesman for the Hungarian government, said NGOs lack "democratic legitimacy" and many of them represent foreign interests.

“In a democracy, political representation comes through democratic legitimacy — elections — that should be void of foreign and nontransparent influencing,” he said.

Hungarian NGOs already report on their funding, but the government has argued current standards are insufficient.

“Those financial reports do not entirely guarantee full and complete transparency since many times the origins, the real sources of the money, remain hidden,” Kovács said.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long been critical of the Open Society and foreign-funded NGOs, but his government’s attacks have intensified of late.

“Hungary cannot afford to allow organizations that remain in the shadows — not declaring who they receive their money from and for what purposes — to continuously encourage migrants to break Hungarian law to somehow get into the country,” said Orbán in a radio address on February 24, adding that “by doing so, international organizations which are primarily linked to George Soros have overstepped a line.”

Soros, a Hungarian-born billionaire financier and philanthropist now based in the U.S., founded the Open Society Foundation during the height of the Cold War.

Soros during a roundtable summit during the U.N. assembly in 2016 | Pool photo by Peter Foley/Getty Images

"I began funding dissidents in countries that were under communist rule in the 1980s and helped seed the development of civil society organizations within the former Soviet empire,” Soros told POLITICO. “Their goal is to hold governments accountable to their people, the majority of whom are motivated by the same impulse that led the fall of the Berlin Wall — the desire for freedom.”

The United States has traditionally supported such democracy-building efforts in Europe and elsewhere. But Trump has advocated a more isolationist foreign policy stance and appears unlikely to throw his support behind civil society groups such as the Open Society.

The State Department Human Rights Report for 2016, published last week, said “governmental pressure on civil society” is a problem in Hungary. Nevertheless, unlike his predecessors, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did not appear in public to discuss the report.

Orbán has welcomed Trump's election, saying Hungary's position had "improved greatly" with his election.

Soros the enemy

The American alt-right website Breitbart, formerly run by Stephen Bannon, now White House chief strategist, has long fixated on Soros, accusing him of trying to bring down Europe's borders, furthering the migrant crisis and funding Trump's opponents.

The perceived sympathy within the Trump administration for anti-Soros sentiments appears to have emboldened politicians throughout Central and Eastern Europe to intensify their assault on Soros-backed groups.

“We prepared material detailing Soros activities in Macedonia, which is already being distributed to representatives of the Senate and the Congress, and to officials from the new U.S. administration close to the U.S. president,” said Nenad Mircevski, a founder of the Macedonian “Stop Operation Soros” movement.

These efforts have already borne fruit: two letters, one signed by Republican Senator Mike Lee and the other by six House Republicans, were sent to the U.S. Mission in Macedonia in mid-January inquiring about U.S. funding for Open Society Foundation projects in Macedonia.

Soros “is present in all of southeast Europe, where he is trying to establish puppet governments that will implement his aggressive political ideology" — Nenad Mircevski, founder of the Macedonian Stop Operation Soros movement

Russia has long opposed Soros. In state-controlled media — both domestic Russian-language outlets and foreign language media like Russia Today and Sputnik — alleged nefarious Soros plots are a frequent theme. And in 2015, the Russian general prosecutor’s office declared the Open Society Foundations to be “undesirable” and a threat to the Russia state, banning the organization from the country.

In Romania, the Social Democratic leader Liviu Dragnea told broadcaster Antena 3 in late January “I do take issue with Mr. Soros. This man and the foundations and structures he has been setting up for years now in Romania, since the '90s, I think, have furthered evil in Romania, he has financed actions, none of which has done the country any good.”

Meanwhile, similar sentiments are emerging in the Balkans.

Soros “is present in all of southeast Europe, where he is trying to establish puppet governments that will implement his aggressive political ideology," said Mircevski.

Public rhetoric warning of the dangers of Soros’ foundations has also become more frequent among politicians in Poland, Serbia, Bulgaria and Slovakia.

Some observers are worried that the attacks on Soros and foreign-funded NGOs are a further sign of deterioration of democratic standards in Central and Eastern Europe.

Soros “is the perfect enemy. He has come to represent faceless globalization and foreign interference and fits perfectly well the type of dog-whistle politics for populists,” said Zselyke Csaky, senior researcher at Freedom House.

In Hungary, “NGOs are the new migrants now that the refugee crisis is less visible domestically. With the elections nearing, the government has to find new targets, new 'others' to blame and to keep its popularity high,” said Csaky.

Andrew Hanna in Washington contributed to this report.

Correction: This article was updated to correct the attribution of a pull quote to Nenad Mircevski, a founder of the Macedonian “Stop Operation Soros” movement.

Authors:

Related stories on these topics:

Attila Szabó

The last highlighted quote is not from Zselyke Csaky. It is from Mr. Mircevski.

Posted on 3/7/17 | 8:03 AM CET

Leo

Soros “is present in all of southeast Europe, where he is trying to establish puppet governments that will implement his aggressive political ideology” — Zselyke Csaky, senior researcher at Freedom House

Soros “is present in all of southeast Europe, where he is trying to establish puppet governments that will implement his aggressive political ideology,” said Mircevski.

Interesting, they both said the exact same thing!… 😉

Posted on 3/7/17 | 8:13 AM CET

Zoi

Hungary is in the EU? You’re kidding me right?
Who let them in?

Posted on 3/7/17 | 10:08 AM CET

rer

Zoi:

You should ask why not all countries banned NGOs founded by this anti-European rat.

Posted on 3/7/17 | 11:18 AM CET

Emanuele

“Warning of the dangers of Soros’ foundations has also become more frequent among politicians in Poland, Serbia, Bulgaria and Slovakia”.
PM Dragnea says that “this man (Soros) and the foundations and structures… have furthered evil in Romania”.
In Macedonia, is operative the “Stop Operation Soros” movement.
In Hungary … well, read the article.
In Russia, Soros NGOs have been banned.
U.S.A. is in alarm on the issue.
Is it possible that all of them are wrong?
Is it impossible that behind all this smoke there’s actually fire?

Posted on 3/7/17 | 1:05 PM CET

glasspix 1

NGOs financed by Soros have been springing up all over Central-Eastern Europe and while they have done a lot of positive work disseminating progressive ideas and political narratives, they have also actively challenged democratically elected governments and political representatives while having no popular support, let alone mandate, from the local populus to do so. The disingenuity by which they have ran their smear campaigns against politicians and demoscratic governments abroad, to the applause of ultra liberal circles in Brussels and Washington, has earned them a lot of anger and disrespect. Their stance on migration in particular has rendered them nigh irrelevant and have made people non-receptive to anything else they would want to say. Hungary has the right to see clearly who is behind these interests and where they money comes from. Political parties have to declare their donors, since when did such a desire for transparency for NGOs become undemocratic?

Posted on 3/7/17 | 1:20 PM CET

jk

Soros is a Globalist who uses his money to further his anti democratic goals of one world government and he profits off of his agenda by undermining currencies, attacking political parties he does not agree with, fomenting revolutions, insurrection and he is a danger to all.

Posted on 3/7/17 | 2:07 PM CET

Gerhard L.

Now, with Brexit coming up, it is about time to supplement the EU treaties by a clause which allows the EU, by majority voting, to exclude a member state from the union, or at least suspend member ship right. Orban’s Hungary, no doubt, would be a very strong candidate for exclusion.
If Orban continues like that, some kind of sanctions are inevitable. The EU simply cannot accept further discrediting by someone acting increasingly destructive.
If the autocratic ruler of the Hungarian empire had to fear consequences, he would presumably act differently.

Posted on 3/7/17 | 2:11 PM CET

Nat

fasciosphere can’t handle Soros – his continuous strengthening of the civil society is driving them nuts. hence, a multitude of conspiracy theories designed to create a sense of legitimate worry, for, “if they’re repeating it over again, it must be true”…(someone actually articulated that argument above).

as their conspiracy theories seem to favour a 2 for 1 format, we are usually presented with any one of the possible permutations, as in: Soros and the masons, Soros and Satan, Soros and the flying monkeys, etc…

I can see two immediate benefits of such approach:

(a) allows for instant weeding out of idiots who subscribe to such nonsense. time is of value. their reasoning isn’t.

(b) such narratives carry great entertainment value – as high as Trump’s tweeting hysterics – so…

Posted on 3/7/17 | 3:01 PM CET

Tom

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Hungary and their brave government that they’d be able to get rid of Soros and his paid propagandists like Ms. Bayer soon.

Posted on 3/7/17 | 3:33 PM CET

Emanuele

@ Tom

I would not worry for sure.
Remember Orban policy on “walls” and borders? At first all to criticize; then, after a few months, all forced to imitate him: Schengen? just a small town in Luxembourg…
Now the situation is repeated, with the Hungarian project of detention for illegal migrants, and the EU compelled to run after him: “Lock up migrants to stop them absconding, says Commission” is the title of a Politico article of few says ago.

Posted on 3/7/17 | 4:24 PM CET

Tom

@Emanuele

Yes, Hungary leads the way. My hat’s off to Mr. Orban!

Posted on 3/7/17 | 6:43 PM CET

Zoi

“The State Department Human Rights Report for 2016, published last week, said “governmental pressure on civil society” is a problem in Hungary.”

Mr Orban is undermining the democracy in Hungary. It’s a power grab!

Posted on 3/7/17 | 7:53 PM CET

Pexit

European Parliament is celebrating as a great day the visit of Soros at the EP, they placed this beautiful date in the time line in his new Atrium visitors center…

Posted on 3/7/17 | 11:29 PM CET

Mike Ehling

Interesting, these American liberals who want Soros-affiliated groups to be able to spend money with impunity throughout Hungary, Poland, the Balkans, and elsewhere (not to mention using this guy’s billions to influence Russian elections) … but these same American liberals squawk at the Citizens United case here at home.

Posted on 3/8/17 | 8:18 AM CET

Johann M. Wolff

@Gerhard L.

Oh yes, because Merkel’s (not CDU but Merkel and red-green) no border, no nation policies are bearing fruits in each and every larger German and Austrian city. Due to family reunification we will just take in a few more million people, all doctors and engineers, throwing teddy bears on them at train stations and living happily ever after as big multicultural family.

Posted on 3/8/17 | 9:51 AM CET

Gerhard L.

@ Johann M. Wolff: No border policy? Rubbish. No nation policy, yes please, make Europe great, get rid of the outdated concept of nation states.
Family reunification. Again, rubbish.
Those you are trying to discredit are fleeing war and terror, apparently you don’t care about that.. human empathy? That’s something for losers…
Throwing teddy bears? Why not, rather a friendly welcome than a violent Pegida mob.
Yea, living in a multi-cultural society, rather than in a single-cultural society of the type you presumably have n mind.

Posted on 3/8/17 | 10:36 AM CET

Emanuele

@ Gerhard L.

Great idea! Let’s get rid of the “outdated concept of nation states”.
But we should make it soon, because in May I’ll have to pay several thousand Euros of taxes to my outdated nation state, and if we hurry to the end of April, I’ll save a lot of money.

Posted on 3/8/17 | 11:58 AM CET

Johann M. Wolff

@Gerhard L.

But most of those teddy bear throwers and red-green supporters are bankrolled by me and other net contributors.
I have to pay close to 50% taxes from my gross salary in order to finance your wet fantasies.
Also from my taxes are financed those Arabic speaking individuals who were harassing my GF at a public swimming pool. A common occurrence these days.

Away with the nation state ? Live in a multicultural (like Neukölln) world ? Well, how about debating it first, after all we still live in a democracy, even if Merkel succeeded in demolishing the CDU, turning it into a 2nd Green party.

Why do you think that about 80% of those polled are against Merkel’s refugee policy ? Meanwhile the remaining 20% are made up mainly Greens, Die Linke, usually net receivers from the society.

Why is red-green Berlin, the poor and sexy city bankrolled by Bavaria and B-W ?
You know, between red-green and Pegida there is a wide space for common sense. If you hate your culture and country why you’re just not leaving it behind (like many communists did) instead of trying to dilute it ?

As Thatcher said, socialism works like charm until you run out of other peoples money.

Posted on 3/8/17 | 12:59 PM CET

www

I know who dislikes Soros the most – Putin and populists/nationalists. That’s it, nothing more to it. Even in Poland there is rising crusade against evil Soros, even if they are sometimes the only reasonable voice in the debate after ’89. This organized ride against Soros is organized by those he undermines the most – fascists and Putin-lovers, and many many ignorants…

Posted on 3/8/17 | 3:40 PM CET

Iks Iksiński

Soros is enemy of free people in Europe, go back to US or state in Palestine!

Posted on 3/8/17 | 4:23 PM CET

de Vogue

Soros is like his former enemy the late Margaret Thatcher: great person with flair and great ideas a long time ago, gone mad recently.

Posted on 3/8/17 | 7:28 PM CET

mike apples

Soros is an enemy of all humanity. He enriches himself by collapsing economies of Western countries, yet the fools here on Politico defend his actions? Bizarre and immoral at best. Politico should be ashamed of itself.

Posted on 3/9/17 | 12:35 AM CET

Paul

OK, so why do the EU care so much? They are really jumpy about this, why?

Posted on 4/6/17 | 2:24 AM CET

Elizabeth Csicsery-Ronay

What do you mean who let them in? This is exactly the kind of comment, the kind of racism that Hungarians are being accused of. Mirror image in fact.